Wrist watches have come a long way since they were first invented! From simply telling the time, smart watches can now be used to monitor your heart rate, count your daily steps and even respond to voice commands. 

With features designed to make life easier and safer, a smart watch isn’t just a nifty gadget – it’s a practical investment for yourself or a thoughtful gift for a senior loved one. Whether you want to stay on top of your health, keep connected or have extra peace of mind, there’s a smart watch that fits the bill. 

But with so many options out there, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Which features matter most? What should you look for? 

Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. To make your decision easier, here’s a breakdown of some popular smart watches and the best features they offer. Let’s find the perfect one for you!

Best smart watch for heart rate monitoring – Fitbit Versa 4

Fitbit has long been a popular smart watch brand, and the Fitbit Versa 4 is our top pick if heart rate monitoring is a priority. This particular watch has earned many positive online reviews in heart rate monitoring, including on health information sites such as healthline.

The Fitbit Versa 4 has a 24/7 heart rate tracker that displays on the home screen and a built-in GPS that can track your movements, which is a significant upgrade to its older model. It’s also waterproof, which means you can keep it on your wrist all the time. 

The Fitbit Versa 4’s battery life is a big plus, as it can last up to 6 days on a single charge (although GPS use will drain the battery more quickly).

Best smart watch for emergencies – Medica Guardian MGMove 

If safety is your priority, then the MGMove by Medical Guardian is a great option. In an emergency, you can tap a button on the phone to be connected to a trained professional at a 24/7 monitoring centre.

Caregivers can view a loved one’s historical location data, which is updated hourly. When the SOS button is pressed, real-time location data is provided, offering caregivers peace of mind by staying connected and informed when they can’t be there.

No smartphones are required for the basic plan. If you upgrade to include the Social Circle Apps (which includes voice to text capabilities and event reminders) you will need a MyGuardian Account, accessible via a web portal and a mobile app.

Best smart watch for fall detection – Apple Watch Series 

The Apple Watch Series 4 onwards is one of the best in the market for fall detection, though they can be a little pricey. The Apple Watch is even credited with saving a man in the US by alerting his son after he fell during a bike ride.

You do need to activate the Fall Detection feature on an Apple Watch before it can be used, but it’s included with the purchase of the watch and is free to use. 

If the watch detects a hard fall, it taps you on the wrist, sounds an alarm and displays an alert. If you don’t respond within a minute, it calls emergency services and sends a message to your emergency contacts with your location. You can dismiss the alert if you accidentally drop the watch.

As a bonus, the smart watch can monitor your heart rate through an ECG app. 

The best smart watch for sleep tracking – Garmin vívosmart® 5 / Apple Watch Series 10

If you want to improve your sleep, or detect issues like sleep apnoea, there are a couple of great smart watches on the market. One of our favourites in this department is the vívosmart® 5 by Garmin. 

This smart watch tracks your different stages of sleep and also shows your movement during the night. You can also track your oxygen levels with its built-in pulse oximeter.  

However, the Apple Watch isn’t too far behind in sleep tracking. The Apple Watch Series 10 uses an algorithm to analyse breathing disturbances while you sleep. It can notify you if it detects consistent signs of moderate to severe sleep apnoea. You can view your breathing disturbances for the past month, 6 months or year and share a detailed report with your healthcare provider   

Time to choose

The best smart watch is the one that fits your unique needs. By providing our top picks based on key features, we hope this guide makes choosing the right smart watch easier – for yourself or someone you care about. 

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